Happiness and Tears
RDcrystalheart
Chapter 22: Blood Realtions
Spectrum Skies stood ghost still in front of the portrait of his family. Cloudy Quartz was on the left side of the room, looking towards the door in shock. Soarin Skies and Rainbow Dash had just entered, and by the looks of it, at a... new stage in their relationship. Spectrum's eyes hardened as his back faced the two.
"Today... today you have proven... that you are not my son."
Soarin's eyes widened as he stared at his father's back in shock. Rainbow Dash's grip tightened on his hoof as she stared up at him, her face dripping with concern.
"Today you have proven that you are not of my blood," Spectrum continued. "You... you have proven that today."
Cloudy sank back, her worst fear finally coming true at last. Soarin's eyes glistened with tears.
"Dad...?" he whispered. Spectrum didn't move.
"You have lost the right to call me that."
Rainbow Dash sniffed from besides him, worried for Soarin's sake. Soarin took a deep breath, before gently prying himself out of Dash's hold. She gasped as he started walking towards Spectrum.
"Does this mean..." Soarin started, now right behind him. "Does this mean that you no longer have any place for me in this house?"
Spectrum didn't move, silently giving Soarin his answer. Soarin shut his eyes, nodding to himself.
"Okay..." he muttered quietly. "Thank you for letting me stay in your house."
Lilian Fly stood outside the large cloud mansion, anxiously awaiting news of what happened. She desperately wished Spectrum would accept Rainbow Dash into the family, but that probably wasn't going to happen
Her ears perked up as she heard somepony approaching. A colt, looking about sixteen, trotted up to her with a happy face.
"Hello!" he said cheerfully. "I'm Speedy!"
Lilian looked down at the young colt, nodding. "Hello... I'm Lilian. Rainbow Dash's mother's friend."
"Oh, cool! Why are we outside?" Speedy asked.
"Uh... some stuff is happening inside. It's best if we just stay out here for the time being," Lilian said. "Hey... aren't you the colt Scootaloo always talks about? I thought you went to college."
"Oh I did, but first term just ended. We got home leave if we wanted for a few days," Speedy explained.
"Oh. Fun," Lilian said.
"Well, Lili, guess we're out here for a bit then, huh?"
"Lili?" Lilian asked. Speedy shrugged.
"The name 'Lilian' is a mouthful, really. I decided to shorten it for you, you can thank me later," he said. Lilian nodded slowly.
"Right..."
Soarin gulped, walking by Spectrum and turning towards his mother. Cloudy was silently crying in the corner of the room, making Soarin walk up to her sadly.
"S-S-Soarin..." she stammered, erupting into tears and embracing him tightly. "I..."
"Shh, Mom," Soarin said quietly, "it's going to be fine. I'll just... settle down myself."
"Soarin... that isn't necessary! I'm sure I can talk to Spectrum and-"
"No, Mother," Soarin cut in, "don't do that. I'll be fine with Rainbow Dash."
Cloudy clung to her son, before looking over at Rainbow Dash, who was shifting her hooves awkwardly from beneath her. Cloudy sighed, taking Soarin's hoof and leading him towards the rainbow-maned mare.
Rainbow Dash looked at her, watching as she took her own hoof and put it in Soarin's.
"I... I heard about your father," Cloudy started, making Rainbow Dash squeal uncomfortably. "And I just wanted to say that I'm... really sorry."
"It's fine," Rainbow Dash breathed. Cloudy looked away.
"Please, promise me something," she started.
"Anything," Rainbow Dash said.
"Please take care of him," Cloudy said in a small voice. Tears had already started streaming down her cheeks. She quickly turned away. "Now go."
"Mom..." Soarin tried. Cloudy shook her head firmly.
"Just... go. Please, before I do something that I'll regret."
Soarin nodded silently, taking Rainbow Dash and beginning to make his way to the entrance of the house. Rainbow Dash desperately shook her head.
"Soarin... we need your father's blessings," she said, frowning when Soarin ignored her. "Soarin... I need to talk to your father!" she protested again. Soarin didn't say anything. "Soarin I-"
Soarin stopped her by pushing her lightly, shaking his head. Rainbow Dash let out a cry, burying her face in his shoulders. Soarin rested his head on her's, leading her to the front door as they made their exit.
Stepping out of the Skies' household for the last time.
Soarin and Rainbow Dash broke into cries once they shut the door, holding onto each other for dear life. Lilian and Speedy, who had been making small talk, looked over in shock at the couple.
"Rainbow...?" Lilian started softly, reaching out to put a hoof on her shoulder. Rainbow Dash strayed away from the touch, looking behind her. "What happened?" Lilian asked, looking over to Soarin.
Soarin didn't answer. He only stared down at his brother.
"Speedy...?" he asked. Speedy tilted his head in confusion.
"Soarin? What's going on? I-"
"What are you doing here?" Soarin cut in. Speedy coughed.
"Uh... term break. I came to spend it with you guys," he said. Soarin closed his eyes, latching back onto his wife. He took a deep breath, kneeling down and putting his hooves on Speedy's shoulders.
"Now, I want you to listen very carefully to me, alright?" he started, "don't ever question where I went."
"What? I don't understand Soarin, what's-"
"Promise me you'll never ask, or think to look for me after this day," Soarin said. Speedy stopped, looking into the emerald eyes of his older brother, before nodding.
"I... okay, I promise. But Soarin, please tell me what's going on," he said. Soarin sighed, taking Speedy in for a big hug.
"I wish I knew, Speeds..." he said softly.
"Soarin, can't Speedy... come along?" Rainbow Dash said from behind them. Soarin promptly shook his head.
"I'm afraid studies and college are far more important right now," he reasoned. Speedy, still a bit confused, looked back to Soarin.
"Uh..."
"Listen, Speedy," Soarin started again, "I'm going to tell you something. Something I've been using my entire life. A piece of advice your father gave to me when I was very little."
Speedy nodded, listening intently. Soarin breathed.
"If you're ever worried, or scared... or are having any second thoughts or doubts about anything... just close your eyes, and think of your parents. Your parents."
Speedy decided not to question the emphasis Soarin had begun putting on certain words, choosing only to nod.
"Um... okay, Soar. I got it," he said quietly.
"Right, now... Rainbow Dash and I best be off, we have to pick up Scootaloo before we..." Soarin said, trailing off and looking at Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare was looking at her hooves in worry.
She quickly looked at Lilian.
"Lilian... please, come with us?" Dash pleaded. Lilian's eyes widened upon the request.
"What? You... you want me to come with you?" she asked. Everypony was now ignoring Speedy's curious glance. Rainbow Dash and Soarin both firmly nodded.
"Yes," Soarin said, "you've been more help to us then I could have ever asked for. Please, Rainbow Dash's right. Come with us."
"I'd... I'd be happy to," Lilian said.
"Very well... we should get going," Soarin said quietly, not quite meeting the eye of his younger brother. Speedy gasped.
"But Soarin! What about Mom and-"
"Don't... finish... that sentence," Soarin breathed, before a single tear ran down his cheek, "I love you."
Speedy gaped as his brother, Rainbow Dash, and Lilian started walking away.
"Soar...?" he whispered. Soarin stopped.
"Oh and, if I were you, I would go back to the school right now."